This guy is making girls very uncomfortable

Philippines
October 26, 2011 1:39am CST
There's this guy who I think has special needs. He is quite independent, but he significantly lacks social skills, his I.Q. is a bit below the average, and he lacks hygiene. His attitude towards girls is somewhat disturbing. He would stare at girls, sometimes, with a subsequent nose bleeding. He always invades people's personal space e.g. I would turn my head only to find his face a few inches from mine). He is making girls very uncomfortable. One time, he saw me online and forced me to turn on my webcam. I refused and logged out. I felt harassed. Since then, I had never replied to his offline messages on Yahoo Messenger. I would always avoid gatherings when I know he's attending. I always have a soft spot for people with special needs. I don't like it when people call them names. But this guy - it's almost impossible to be nice to him. Even if I ignore him, he would still follow me around when he sees me. I always feel harassed by him, even if he doesn't intend to. What is the right way to deal with this type of person?
2 people like this
8 responses
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
26 Oct 11
I think, i have met a person like that. He may be a person with a certain disability such as lack of IQ, but still we have to be aware of his wrongdoings. It is our duty to correct them and tell them that it is wrong to do that. That's one way of educating him, thus helping him. But despite that, he would still insist in his wrong doing, then the best would be to avoid him totally.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
26 Oct 11
You are right SIMPLYD. I should've at least tried correcting him. I kept on hinting him, but it didn't work. It might have worked on other guys, but since he is special, it wouldn't work on him. I will remember your advice. Thank you.:) And if it fails, I will avoid him altogether.
1 person likes this
@rollylolly (2843)
• India
26 Oct 11
You have already mentioned that this guy has special needs and he is doing this out of compulsion . I think you should talk to his family members and discuss the issue. He needs treatment and special care . In this way you can help the guy as well . I can understand your discomfort so it is always better to talk to them soon and find a solution . All the best
1 person likes this
• Philippines
26 Oct 11
I think that's a great idea rollylolly. However, no one has met his parents. Some of us think that he's being neglected by his parents. After our gatherings, he would end up asking people to drive him home. He didn't know how to get home, and his parents didn't even come to pick him up. I wish that he would learn some social skills; otherwise, everyone would start avoiding him.
1 person likes this
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
26 Oct 11
If he touches you, or if he has anyway to harass you in public, you can always call the police. I just want you to know that, if you try to reason with him that he still harass you, you should try to call the authority, or do anyway you can to avoid him when he present. Good luck with your case.
• Philippines
27 Oct 11
Thanks kingparker for your concern.:) I don't know if he's that dangerous. He never touches anyone. All he did was to stare and to invade people's personal space.
@ravisivan (14082)
• India
26 Oct 11
You have not mentioned about his age and your age. Age matters a lot in these cases. If you want to avoid that guy --do not go to places that he visits frequently. Remove his name from contact list in email account and also cell phone. Decide to conduct in such a way that he will not form an impression you are interested in him -- dress conservatively or in a way youngsters may not appreciate. Try to be in the company of others and never be alone. Think and then decide your suitable course of action.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
26 Oct 11
That was years ago. We were in our early 20's. I was in a situation where I couldn't avoid him. Let's say I was a leader of a club, and I had to contact him. I've always dressed conservatively, and so do girls whom he loved staring at. I was never alone with him. He followed other girls too (mostly from my group).:( I don't understand him. My guess is that since I was sort of a "leader", I looked more approachable. I don't know... Thanks for your response ravisivan.:)
1 person likes this
@ralphs (209)
• Philippines
28 Oct 11
i think he has a mental disorder, he follows you even if you ignore him, i think he has a bad plan to you so better be careful. better go to police station and report him, or if you don't want to go to the police station don't walk around alone because there is a possibilities that he is around seeking of you, he is insane. better leave him take care .
• Philippines
28 Oct 11
Hi ralphs, thank you so much for your concern. He isn't normal, but I think he is more annoying than dangerous. He isn't like the psychos in movies where he follow girls to their home. We have these gatherings and it was only there that he would follow me around. He didn't have much friends and no one wants to hang out with him. I guess he just needs company. However, he is getting on my nerves because as I've said, he invades people's personal space. For safety's sake, I try to avoid him as much as I can and I'm never alone with him.
• India
29 Oct 11
There's no better way than ignoring such people, he may be a special needs person and even I admire such people a lot, but this guy sounds kind of psycho and overly possessive and acting weirdly. I'd never force anyone to do something against her wishes, if she's not comfortable with me I'd simply give her space or will probably go away from her life if she doesn't like me. The way you're dealing with this guy by adopting an avoidance attitude is the best way to deal with such guys. Although he may have a low IQ but that doesn't mean you'll sacrifice your happiness and do things against your desires, you've right to live your life the way you want to. You intent to help him, but the guy demands extreme attention from your end, which I feel is invading one's personal space, ignorance is the best option to deal with such people because when he'll see you he'll become possessive again for you and start thinking about you once again and hence staying away from such people and making every possible attempt to avoid contact with such people either online or in real life should be done, this will make them not to think about you and over a period of time as they won't see you around may forget you, so ignorance is the best policy to deal with such people.
• Philippines
31 Oct 11
I respect people with special needs. I'm aware that they're different and should be treated with patience and understanding. But yeah, this guy is very weird. It's hard to be nice to him, since doing so will make him follow me more. Everyone wants to avoid him, and with him sitting very near me, other friends would try not to get near me. I may sound mean, but it is impossible to have fun when he's around. He is making me and the rest of the girls very uncomfortable. I have thought a lot of times about this. After several times of being followed around by this guy, and after the webcam incident, I decided to ignore him completely. I am now permanently invisible to him on YM, I ignore his offline messages, I don't greet him on his birthday (I greet everyone in our club before), and I don't go to our gatherings anymore. The last time I see him was a few years ago. But there are a few times when I wonder if what I did is right. Shailesh, thank you so much for making me feel that I'm not a bad person for ignoring this guy.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
26 Oct 11
I went to school with a boy like this and I can tell you that it was not at all easy to deal with him because of the fact that he always wanted to be pretty physical with people. He seemed to have a lack for personal space and that in and of itself was the reason that he was hard to deal with. I did find that if you were pretty stern with him and clearr about your needs to have a personal bubble that he did tend to back off. I'd try that with this guy and see if it makes a difference.
• Philippines
27 Oct 11
Ok dorannmwin, maybe I wasn't too stern with him. I will try it. Thanks for your suggestion!:)
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
26 Oct 11
I think it might help if one of the other guys tried to make him understand why the girls are avoiding him. That way none of the girls will have to confront him. You don't know if he might be dangerous, as well as disturbed. I don't think this is a case where any woman should talk to him alone. I'm afraid this sort of behavior would make me run the other way, if possible. But you did say you can't do that. I would just be as impersonal as possible. If he gets too close, just tell him it makes you uncomfortable. I think you are dealing with it as well as anyone could be expected to. Sounds like his EQ is very low. I had a couple of kids in my Sunday school class when I was teaching who were in special classes in school for the emotionally handicapped -- those who could not behave appropriately for their ages. They just responded to people in weird ways, but not as weird as this guy seems to be.
• Philippines
27 Oct 11
Most of us girls are clueless about what to do with him. If he is "normal", perhaps it would make things easier. But since he is "special", we have to be extra careful with him. Yes, I agree with you. His EQ is very low. No one wants to be near him. However, he just seems to appear out of nowhere. One minute, you were happily talking with your friends. Another minute, he was already sitting very near you. Guys don't treat him seriously. They don't think he's dangerous. It's a nice idea though to tell other guys about it. Maybe I will try it. Luckily, I don't see him anymore. Thanks bagarad.:)